Contaminant-extraction system

Abstract

An apparatus includes a controllable contaminant-extraction system configured to, at least in part, extract an extractable contaminant from a contaminant plume positioned in the soil via an extraction conduit extending in the contaminant plume. A control assembly is configured to control operation of the controllable contaminant-extraction system in such a way that the controllable contaminant-extraction system extracts the extractable contaminant via the extraction conduit by randomly changing, at least in part, a flow rate of the extractable contaminant that is extracted from the contaminant plume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a controllable contaminant-extraction system being configured to, at least in part, extract an extractable contaminant from a contaminant plume positioned in the soil via an extraction conduit extending in the contaminant plume; and   a control assembly being configured to control operation of the controllable contaminant-extraction system in such a way that the controllable contaminant-extraction system extracts the extractable contaminant via the extraction conduit by randomly changing, at least in part, a flow rate of the extractable contaminant that is extracted from the contaminant plume.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a controllable contaminant-extraction system being configured to be installed, at least in part, relative to the soil, in which a contaminant plume is positioned, at least in part, in the soil, and in which the contaminant plume includes an extractable contaminant located therein; and   the controllable contaminant-extraction system being configured to be operatively coupled to an extraction conduit, in which the extraction conduit is configured to be installed, at least in part, in the soil in such a way that the extraction conduit, in use, extends, at least in part, in the contaminant plume that is positioned in the soil, and in which the extraction conduit includes an entrance portal that is configured to be positioned, at least in part, in the contaminant plume in such a way that the extractable contaminant, in use, is movable from the contaminant plume and enters an interior of the extraction conduit, and in which the extraction conduit also includes an exit portal being spaced-apart from the entrance portal, and the exit portal is configured to allow the extractable contaminant to be movable from the entrance portal and along the extraction conduit and to exit from the interior of the extraction conduit away from the soil, and   the controllable contaminant-extraction system being configured to be operatively coupled to the extraction conduit; and   the controllable contaminant-extraction system being configured to, at least in part, extract, in use, the extractable contaminant from the contaminant plume via the extraction conduit once:
 the extraction conduit is extended, at least in part, in the contaminant plume; and 
 the controllable contaminant-extraction system is operatively coupled to the extraction conduit; and 
   a control assembly being configured to be operatively connected to the controllable contaminant-extraction system in such a way that the control assembly, in use, controls operation of the controllable contaminant-extraction system.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the control assembly is configured to control the controllable contaminant-extraction system in such a way that the controllable contaminant-extraction system operates to extract the extractable contaminant contained in the contaminant plume via the extraction conduit by randomly changing, at least in part, a flow rate of the extractable contaminant being extracted from the contaminant plume so that a concentration of the extractable contaminant contained in the contaminant plume is reduced, at least in part.   
     
     
         4 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a controllable contaminant-extraction system being configured to be installed, at least in part, relative to the soil, in which a contaminant plume is positioned, at least in part, in the soil, and in which the contaminant plume includes an extractable contaminant located therein; and   the controllable contaminant-extraction system being configured to be operatively coupled to an extraction conduit, in which the extraction conduit is configured to be installed, at least in part, in the soil in such a way that the extraction conduit, in use, extends, at least in part, in the contaminant plume that is positioned in the soil, and in which the extraction conduit includes an entrance portal that is configured to be positioned, at least in part, in the contaminant plume in such a way that the extractable contaminant, in use, is movable from the contaminant plume and enters an interior of the extraction conduit, and in which the extraction conduit also includes an exit portal being spaced-apart from the entrance portal, and the exit portal is configured to allow the extractable contaminant to be movable from the entrance portal and along the extraction conduit and to exit from the interior of the extraction conduit away from the soil, and   the controllable contaminant-extraction system being configured to be operatively coupled to the extraction conduit; and   the controllable contaminant-extraction system being configured to, at least in part, extract, in use, the extractable contaminant from the contaminant plume via the extraction conduit once:
 the extraction conduit is extended, at least in part, in the contaminant plume; and 
 the controllable contaminant-extraction system is operatively coupled to the extraction conduit; and 
   a control assembly being configured to be operatively connected to the controllable contaminant-extraction system in such a way that the control assembly, in use, controls operation of the controllable contaminant-extraction system; and   the control assembly being configured to control the controllable contaminant-extraction system in such a way that the controllable contaminant-extraction system operates to extract the extractable contaminant contained in the contaminant plume via the extraction conduit by randomly changing, at least in part, a flow rate of the extractable contaminant being extracted from the contaminant plume so that a concentration of the extractable contaminant contained in the contaminant plume is reduced, at least in part.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the control assembly is further configured to control, in use, operation of the controllable contaminant-extraction system in such a way that the controllable contaminant-extraction system, in use, cycles between a rest-operation mode and a runtime-operation mode.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 during a runtime-operation mode, the control assembly, in use, controls the controllable contaminant-extraction system in such a way that the controllable contaminant-extraction system operates to remove the extractable contaminant contained in the contaminant plume via the extraction conduit by randomly changing, at least in part, the flow rate of the extractable contaminant that is removed from the contaminant plume so that the concentration of the extractable contaminant contained in the contaminant plume is reduced, at least in part.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 during a rest-operation mode, the control assembly, in use, controls the controllable contaminant-extraction system in such a way that:
 the controllable contaminant-extraction system does not operate to extract the extractable contaminant; and 
 an amount of the extractable contaminant contained in the contaminant plume increases, at least in part. 
   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 during a runtime mode, the control assembly, in use, controls the controllable contaminant-extraction system in such a way that the controllable contaminant-extraction system operates to remove, at least in part, the extractable contaminant from the contaminant plume via the extraction conduit so that an amount of the extractable contaminant contained in the contaminant plume is decreased, at least in part.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the controllable contaminant-extraction system includes a controllable pump assembly; and   the control assembly includes a windmill configured to operate the controllable pump assembly in response to movement of the wind.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the exit portal is configured to allow the extractable contaminant to be movable from the entrance portal and along the extraction conduit and to exit from the interior of the extraction conduit to any one of the atmosphere and into a storage system.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the control assembly is further configured to control, in use, operation of the controllable contaminant-extraction system in such a way that the controllable contaminant-extraction system, in use, randomly cycles between a rest-operation mode and a runtime-operation mode.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the control assembly is further configured to control, in use, operation of the controllable contaminant-extraction system. This is done in such a way that the controllable contaminant-extraction system operates by using variable flow movement of the extractable contaminant.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the controllable contaminant-extraction system includes a centrifugal pump; and   a bleeding valve is mounted proximate to the exit portal of the extraction conduit; and   the bleeding valve is configured to introduce atmospheric air, via an air input, into an output section of the extraction conduit in such a way that the atmospheric air is bled into an input side of the centrifugal pump.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the controllable contaminant-extraction system is fluidly coupled to an off-gas discharge; and   the off-gas discharge is configured to vent an off-gas flow to the atmosphere from the controllable contaminant-extraction system.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 an off-gas discharge valve is fluidly connected to, and in-line with, an off-gas discharge; and   the off-gas discharge valve is configured to generate back pressure in the extraction conduit to allow flow via a sampling port for off-gas sampling.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 a sampling port extends from, and is fluidly coupled to, an off-gas discharge; and   a sampling valve is fluidly connected to, and in-line with, the sampling port; and   the sampling valve is configured to selectively shut OFF or turn ON fluid flow through the sampling port.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the controllable contaminant-extraction system includes a diaphragm pump.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the controllable contaminant-extraction system includes a controllable pump assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the control assembly includes any one of a microprocessor controller and a programmable logic controller.